Page 32 of Wild Ace

I leave his office and see Tessa at the end of the hall, walking towards me.

“How’s my girl?” I wrap Tessa in a hug. She’s been like another little sister to me since she came into Alec’s life. Of course, it drives Alec crazy every time I call her that, and he always grumbles, she’s not your fucking girl.

“I thought I was your favorite?” Her question is mumbled against my chest. I’ve always greeted her by asking, how’s my favorite girl?

“Sorry, sorellina, but I might have a new favorite.”

She pulls back to find me smiling. “What? Who?”

“First, congratulations. I’m going to be an uncle.”

“Alec told you?”

“I sort of guessed and then he confirmed it. Was he not supposed to?”

She shrugs. “No, that’s fine. We were going to announce it all at once to everyone.”

“Announce all what at once? There’s more?”

“Kind of.” She has this guilty look on her face.

“No,” I say. “You didn’t. You got married without me?” I pout, and tears gather in her eyes. “Oh, shit. I didn’t mean to make you cry. I’m sorry, sorellina. It’s okay, I promise. I don’t know why Alec didn’t just tell me, though.”

“I don’t mean to cry. It’s these stupid hormones,” she huffs, upset with herself. “We got married a few weeks ago. The day after I found out I was pregnant. We went into the city and Leo and Abri were our witnesses. But you deserve to know before everyone else, too. You’ve been like a brother to me since we met. And since I lost mine…” she trails off, smiling through fresh watery eyes.

I pull her in for another big hug.

“Thank you for being you, sorellina. You’re who Alec needs and who this family needs, too. And you know that little girl or boy will be loved and protected. Always.”

“I know.” She sniffs, hugging me tighter.

“You know, if Alec walks out and sees us like this, I won’t be able to win my girl over. Because I’ll be maimed. Or dead.”

I get my desired response and feel her shake with laughter. “Why do you have to win her over?” she asks, pulling away. “She doesn’t like you?”

“She doesn’t want to get involved with a man like me. But I’ve got a plan.”

“Well, when she finally gives in, which I know she will because it’s hard to resist your charms, I want to meet her.”

“You will.”

“Good. Now, I’ve got to go surprise my husband.” Tessa winks, walking around me.

Wow. Husband.

Alec is a fucking husband.

I honestly never thought that day would come until Tessa walked, or rather danced, into his life.

None of us wanted to get married. We all saw and experienced the marriages our parents had. All arranged to keep the family line going, and all with someone who understood the life and understood who we are and what we do without judgement and without needing to explain ourselves.

But I’ve seen my cousins break that mold, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t envious. I see what’s possible and I want it, too.

I love my life, but having a good woman who’s loyal and loves you through the good, bad, ugly, and whatever else this life can throw at you, is something we all crave. It’s something we all need.

There’s always the imminent danger that goes hand-in-hand with the people we do business with, as well as those that want the businesses we have. But protecting the women in our lives and our family is our number one priority.

Over the past year and a half, our family has dealt with kidnappings, fucked-up business partners, even more fucked-up family members, people trying to cheat us, traitors, death, close calls with death, and a whole host of other shit that’s just par for the course that is our lives as Carfanos.

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